U.K. Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said that England "is ready to host the 2022 World Cup if asked to do so in the wake of the bribery and corruption allegations surrounding the successful bid by Qatar," according to Kiran Stacey of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Whittingdale told MPs on Thursday the country "had the facilities on hand to host the tournament at late notice if Qatar is stripped of it." Whittingdale: “If FIFA came forward and asked us to consider hosting it, we have the facilities in this country -- and of course we did mount a very impressive, if unsuccessful bid to host the 2018 World Cup" (FT, 6/4). In London, Peter Walker reported Whittingdale was asked by Conservative MP for Gloucester Richard Graham whether England “would be in a position” to host the 2022 World Cup if it was removed from Qatar.
He replied, "In terms of the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, that is obviously something where we’re watching the investigation, but obviously that decision stands." Shadow Culture Secretary Chris Bryant asked if U.K. broadcasters "should refuse to pay for TV rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups if the bid process for hosting them was not re-opened."
Whittingdale said that "he hoped the bids would be re-run." He added, "However, if the World Cup goes ahead I think it would be unfair to tell English fans, and indeed fans of the other home nations, if their sides qualify, that they would not be able to watch their sides competing in the World Cup because the broadcasters weren’t going to purchase the sports rights to cover it" (GUARDIAN, 6/4). The BBC reported PM David Cameron "has backed Whittingdale's comments" but said that his priority is "cleaning up" FIFA (BBC, 6/4).
LOOKING DOWN UNDER: SKY SPORTS wrote Australia "is ready to host the 2022 World Cup if the event is stripped from Qatar as a result of corruption allegations."
But Melbourne "wants to change the original Australian bid and host the final" at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Victoria Sports Minister John Eren: "We could step in, we could help out. We are prepared to take on that challenge. For us, it comes easy." The original bid "had Sydney down to host the final at Stadium Australia," but Eren said "the sporting capital of the world" deserved the main event (SKY SPORTS, 6/4).
